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The best classical morning music

Ian Skelly plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Ian Skelly plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.

1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.

1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.

1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.

1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.

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26 days left to listen

3 hours, 30 minutes

Last on

Wednesday 09:30
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

  • George Gershwin

    Girl Crazy (Overture)

    Orchestra: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • Gershwin: Rhapsody In Blue & Popular Orchestral Works.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Keyboard Sonata in F Minor, Kk. 466

    Performer: Julius Asal.
    • SCRIABIN 鈥� SCARLATTI.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 2.

  • Sally Beamish

    In the Stillness

    Choir: Pembroke College Girls' Choir. Director: Anna Lapwood.
    • All Things Are Quite Silent.
    • SIGNUM.
    • 4.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet Op.18 No.5 (1st mvt)

    Ensemble: Belcea Quartet.
    • Beethoven: The Complete String Quartets Vol. 2: Belcea Quartet.
    • Zig Zag Territories.
    • 5.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.104 in D major 'London' (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
    • Haydn, 12 London Symphonies: Marc Minkowski, Les Musiciens du Louvre-Grenobles.
    • Naive.
    • 10.

  • Henry Purcell

    Dido and Aeneas - Act III: The Witches' Dance

    Performer: Steven Devine. Performer: Elizabeth Kenny. Ensemble: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Ren茅 Jacobs.
    • CHANDOS.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Cello Sonata No 1 in E minor, Op 38 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Truls M酶rk. Performer: H茅l猫ne Grimaud.
    • 111 Years Of Deutsche Grammophon The Collector's Edition Vol.2.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 7.

  • Edvard Grieg

    March of the Trolls (Lyric Pieces Op.54)

    Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes.
    • Grieg: Lyric Pieces: Leif Ove Andsnes.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 9.

  • Anton Webern

    Langsamer Satz

    Orchestra: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Heinz Holliger.
    • Zig Zag Territories.

  • Sara Barone

    Grace of the World (Sincerity)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Andreas Graf. Conductor: Ben Palmer.
    • CLAVES.

  • Alfonso Ferrabosco

    Interdette speranze

    Ensemble: The English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble.
    • Music For Windy Instruments.
    • RESONUS.
    • 4.

  • Johann Nepomuk Hummel

    Trumpet Concerto in E flat major

    Performer: Alison Balsom. Performer: Thomas Klug. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
    • Haydn, Hummel etc: Trumpet Concertos: Alison Balsom.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 1.

  • John Dowland

    Lachrimae

    Performer: Thomas Dunford.
    • ALPHA.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Witches' Chorus (Macbeth)

    Choir: Welsh National Opera Chorus. Orchestra: Welsh National Opera Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Armstrong.
    • Verdi Choruses.
    • EMI.
    • 006.

  • Edward MacDowell

    Witches' Dance, Op.17 no.2

    Performer: Sir Stephen Hough.
    • The Piano Album: Stephen Hough.
    • Virgin Classics.
    • 1.

  • S. J. Hawkins

    I Put a Spell On You

    Performer: Nina Simone.
    • VERVE.

  • Charles Gounod

    Ave Maria

    Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach. Performer: Yo鈥怸o Ma. Performer: Kathryn Stott.
    • SONY.

  • Mel Bonis

    厂补濒辞尘茅

    Orchestra: Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse. Conductor: Leo Hussain.
    • Compositrices: New Light on French Romantic Women Composers.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 3.

  • Margaret Rizza

    Ave Generosa

    Choir: The Sixteen. Director: Harry Christophers.
    • A Mother's Love - Music For Mary.
    • Decca (UMO).
    • 9.

  • Tommaso Traetta

    Ifigenia in Tauride, Act 3 conclusion

    Choir: Novo Canto. Orchestra: Les Talens Lyriques. Conductor: Christophe Rousset.
    • Traetta: Ifigenia in Tauride.
    • 础辫补谤迟茅.
    • 29-34.

  • John Ireland

    A Downland Suite: III. Minuet

    Ensemble: London Brass Virtuosi. Conductor: David Honeyball.
    • English Music for Brass: Elgar, Vaughan Williams & Ireland.
    • Hyperion.
    • 3.

  • Paul Hindemith

    Symphonic Metamorphosis of Themes by Carl Maria von Weber (March)

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Martyn Brabbins.
    • Hindemith: Symphonic Metamorphosis & other orchestral works.
    • Hyperion.
    • 6-9.

  • Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber

    Fidicinium sacro-profanum (Sonata No 4 in G minor)

    Ensemble: The Purcell Quartet.
    • Biber: Sacro-Profanum: The Purcell Quartet.
    • Chandos.
    • 5.

  • Gustav Holst

    First Dance (Beni Mora)

    Orchestra: 麻豆社 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Davis.
    • Holst: Orchestral Works, Volume 2.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Eternal source of light divine (Birthday Ode for Queen Anne)

    Performer: David Blackadder. Singer: Elin Manahan Thomas. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Elin Manahan Thoms: Eternal Light.
    • Heliodor.

  • James P. Johnson

    Drums - A Symphonic Poem

    Orchestra: The Concordia Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Victory Stride - The Symphonic Music of James P. Johnson.
    • NIMBUS RECORDS.
    • 9.

  • Claude Debussy

    En blanc et noir (1st mvt)

    Performer: Martha Argerich. Performer: Stephen Kovacevich.
    • Warner Classics.

  • Leo拧 Jan谩膷ek

    Sinfonietta (Sokol Fanfare)

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos.

Broadcast

  • Wednesday 09:30
    麻豆社 Radio 3